The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – The Waitsburg Resource Center shelves are filled to the brim following a food drive sponsored by the Waitsburg High School Leos and the Waitsburg Lions clubs.

The Leos and Lions collected just under 1,000 lbs. of non-perishable food items which Leos advisor Gabe Kiefel says will be matched pound-for-pound by the Blue Mountain Action Council. Add that to the 300 pounds Preston Hall students recently donated, and the resource center will receive well over a ton of food.

Kiefel said the Leos Club organized the Dec. 1 food drive as a competition between classes. Students from each grade bundled up and faced sub-freezing temperatures while going door-to-door soliciting donations. Lions Club members shadowed students with pick-up trucks to haul food and ensure safety.

In just two hours, the freshmen came in first with 298 lbs. of food. The junior class gathered 273 lbs., the seniors gathered 253 lbs., and the sophomores brought in 151 lbs.

Lions Club member Walt Gobel, Leos President Timber Frohreich, Leos Vice President Jacob Dunn, Kiefel, and High School Principal Stephanie Wooderchak helped organize the drive. Lions Jack McCaw and Dan McKinley helped cook food at the Lions club building after the drive for everyone that participated, and many members from both clubs helped with the event.

“Everyone agreed that the event was a tremendous success and that the spirit of service continues to be a wonderful part of the Waitsburg community,” said Kiefel.